Variety (October 1911)

VARIETY NEW ONE-ACT OPERETTA AT T HE WIN TER GARDEN The Shuberts Borrow Musical Piece from Henry W. Savage to Bolster up the Entertainment. Show all Shifted About. Within a couple of weeks the Shuberts intend to produce "Vera Videtta" at the Winter Garden. It is a musical piece, with successful runs to its credit at the Apollo, Berlin, and other houses across the pond. Henry W. Savage secured the American rights, but finding no open- ing for the skit over here, loaned it to the Shuberts, who will use it to bolster up the performance around Gaby Deslys at the Winter Garden. The music of "Vera Videtta" was composed by EyBsler. While the roles will be cast from the present company in the Winter Garden show, the operetta contains a couple of melodies requiring real voices to bring out their beauty. Among other changes in the Garden show have occurred the suppression of the "Folies Be Jabers" scene. Reynolds and Donegan, the roller skaters, have been added to the specialists in the performance. Lillian Shaw joined the cast last Monday. (Special Cable to Variety-.) London, Oct. 11. There is a slight hitch in the formal closing of the contract between Calve and the Shuberts. The management wishes it agreed to that eight per- formances a week shall be played. This means two matinees. Calve is in- tent upon singing at but seven shows. Lee Shubert, in reply to the New York Herald's request for a confirma- tion of Variety's story last week of the Calve engagement, stated that Calve would appear at the Winter Garden, following the termination of Mile. Deslys' engagement there. Irving Berlin, Andy Rice and Belle Baker are among the newest acquisi- tions to the Winter Garden show. They begin Monday. After her appearance Monday Lil- lian Shaw was told by the manage- ment that it would be well for her to retire from the show as she was not making good and that it would injure her to remain. Miss Shaw agreed to quit If paid a week's salary. This was not forthcoming and she elected to remain. Her specialty has been cut to two songs and she is on early. Lydia Barry was placed "No. 2" in the Sunday afternoon concert. She went through her turn and when fin- ished, calmly notified the stage man- ager she would report in the evening, but if not given a better spot, would walk out. For the night perform- ance Miss Barry was given seventh position. Harry Jolson and Maud Raymond have placed their claims in the hands of Gus Dreyer, lawyer, for collection. He had a conference with Lee Shubert on Tuesday and was told that Shubert would see E. F. Albee and endeavor to get back the bookings that Jolson had cancelled to accept the Winter Garden engagement and that Jolson would be paid for the time he re- mained idle. In the Miss Raymond matter she would be placed with an- other of the Shubert attractions. This she declined to accept. During the concert at the Winter Garden Sunday night, before a ca- pacity attendance, two of the early acts were "chased off the stage" by the audience. The first number to incur the en- mity of the assemblage was a "west- ern act," overstaying their welcome. This was followed by a "made up" turn of two male singers from the Shubert companies around town. They were never allowed to start. Dorothy Jardon pulled the program back to where It had been, and the remainder of the bill played without interrup- tion. The new system the Shuberts have discovered for dispensing with its Winter Garden people ia making con- siderable comment along Broadway. Besides having the door tender in- form a principal or two they were barred from the stage, as notice of abrupt dismissal, several chorus girls are reported to have received the same treatment. A verbal contract for twenty-five weeks Is claimed by Maud Raymond. Her account with the Shuberts, also that of Harry Jolson's may be ad- justed without recourse to the threat- ened law suits. BACKING "INTRODUCE ME." "Introduce Me" is the title of a new play which J. F. Sullivan and others are putting out. The openini; date is planned for South Norwalk, Conn. A special production carried on a special car is announced. The piece is backed by the same people who produced "The White Squaw." DKOUET IN "GRAFT." Robert Drouet has been engaged by Frederic Thompson for the principal role in "Graft." GET BEST NOTICES. "Bunty Pulls the Strings," pro- duced at the Comedy Tuesday night, received the best reviews in the daily papers of any show presented thus far this season. "Bought and Paid For" is a close second for "notices," both playing Shubert theatres. The latter attraction may, however, shortly be removed to a "Syndicate" house to make way for Grace George at the Playhouse. TREATY WITH HUNGARY. Within a few months there is likely to be a copyright treaty between the United States and Hungary. In 1907 a treaty was entered into between the United States and Aus- tria, but as Hungary has a separate Parliament that country was not in- cluded in the treaty. At present there is no protection for Hungarian producers in this country. Any of the many managers who go abroad very often may chose from the theatres of Hungarians, without fear. This works the other way as well, for American pieces could be taken wholly to Buda Pest and produced there with- out permission. A prominent copyright lawyer stated this week all that was wanting now was the issue of a proclamation by the President of the United States de- manding th) treaty. The attorney stated that the treaty was bound to happen within a few months. FOY LEAVING CHICAGO. Chicago, Oct. 11. The Eddie Foy show, "Over the River" will leave the Studebaker Oct. 21, after three weeks at the house. It is doing fairly. Some changes will be made. Oct. 22 "Excuse Me" will open at the theatre. When the Foy company struck town, Mr. Foy noticed some of the paper hailed him as "Edwin Foy." His objections made the name read "Eddie" instead. A change of some consequence has been made in the setting, by combin- ing the two scenes of the second act. This is now played in one set—the office of the prison warden at Black- well's Island. The alteration elim- inates the pictures of two tiers of cells. The result Is an improvement. The dances and musical features have not been altered. HITCHCOCK MUST LEAVE. Boston, Oct 11. Elsie Janis, In "The Slim Princess," follows Raymond Hitchcock in "The Red Widow" at the Colonial, October 30. Despite all efforts to extend Hitch- cock's time, the Janis management re- fused to cancel. It Is understood that an extra fort- night's stay was secured through Henry Dixcy postponing his Hub en- try. BERNHARDT RE-ENGAGED. (Special Cable to Variety,) Paris, Oct. 11. Bernhardt has been re-engaged to play at the Coliseum, London, next year. The contract for Mme. Bernhardt was hurried through by Oswald Stoll, to prevent the Moss Hippodrome from securing the actress. It is reported that Bernhardt will receive from Stoll $4,250 (850 pounds) for her next summer's en- gagement. This sum will be net, the Stoll office paying commission direct. London, October 11. Mme. Sarah Bernhardt at the Coli- seum Monday played a tabloid ver- sion of "Joan of Arc." It was one more triumph for "the divine." COMEDY WELL RECEIVED. (Special Cable to Varibty.) London, Oct. 11. The new comedy "Sa Fllle,'" by F. Duquesnel and A. Barde, wsb pro- duced by Manager Porel at the Thea- tre du Vaudeville Tuesday night. It was fairly well received. The role of a young French girl brought up in England, was played by Monna Delza, while Marcelle Len- der again showed her talent as a somewhat flighty mother. OLYMPIAN BIG BUSINESS. ' (Special Cable to Variety-. ) London, Oct. 11. The revue at the Olympla, by Rip and Bousquet, the first to be mounted by Jacques Charles, the new man- ager, was successfully produced Oct. 6. The principal artists engaged are Mines. Jane Maniac. Merindol, Nina Myral, Nelja Meg Villars, Kerville, Blanche Guy, Marie Nelsa, Naudoa. Waljer, Blanca de Bllboa, 16 Tiller Girls; Messrs. Maurel, Morton, Dor- ville, Honore, Frank Mauris, Manville, Pougaud and Bouthors. Bouthors is a first prize winner of the Conservatoire. Mile. Kerville is a sister of Gaby Deslys. She has been playing for some time, but has noth- ing like the name (and luck) her sis- ter Gaby has obtained. Frank Mauris was formerly stage manager of the Palais de Crystal, Mar- seilles. Grace West and George White, also in the cast, fared nicely. The present business at the Olympla 1b tremendous. Fred Curtis of Chicago is not the Fred Curtis of New York. They are often confused. THE DIVINE DODSON PORTRAYING FKMIN1NK TYI'KS. DIVINFO DODSON will shortly be seen In tho cast. Ho Is noted as un urtlst wearing the most elaborate wardrobe In Vuudevllle, as well as being a performer of exceptional ability. JCLAW AT OPENING. Seattle, Oct. 11. With a capacity audience and Rich- ard Carle In "Jumping Jupiter" as the first attraction the Metropolitan the- atre, the new Klaw & Erlanger house, had an auspicious opening Monday. The Metropolitan seats 1,600. It Is a beautiful playhouse. George MacKenzle Is the resident manager. Marc Klaw was here for the send-off. Ml NIC HAIJj OCT. 21, MAYBE. Chicago, Oct. 11. The latest date set for the opening of the Lew Fields' American Music Hall is Oct. 21. It may be Oct. 23. No one seems positive.